For the office we added a picture rail moulding to bring the scale of the room into the proper proportions. The original elaborate trim mouldings had all been sadly removed in previous years. Then, we added cheerful colors to lift the spirits of the staff working here. The stained glass windows have gained an added luster with the right colors surrounding them.

1957 Frank Lloyd Wright House

The Gordon House in Silverton, OR, was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright in 1957, and is the only building in Oregon by him.

Art First was hired to discover the original paint color. Researching the paint colors chosen by Wright on his other buildings, as well as conducting a microscopic analysis of the paint samples, yielded the results.

The authentic pigment is now being applied in stages.

I can't advise you strongly enough to visit the house (at the Oregon Garden) for a transcendent architectural experience:

Samples showed shrinkage crackle caused by the weather, and flaking caused by physical vibration. Sequencing was confused by later paint creeping through cracks under loose older paint and appearing to predate it.

Art First took samples with complete stratigraphies where original colors were least degraded. Samples were examined by stereomicroscopy under controlled fiber-optic illumination to allow identification of the colors based on optical properties.

the auditorium before

The Hollywood Theatre

Built in 1926 for vaudeville shows and silent films accompanied by a live orchesta and organist, this historic venue continues to entertain with current cinematic previews and special programs.

Art First's Mary McMurrray volunteered her expertise to design new and glamorous paint colors for both interior and exterior surfaces during its restoration.

after. Photo by John Keel

before

Before restoration these colors did nothing to highlight the importance of this architectural treasure.

after

The new colors by Art First bring it back to its welcoming vibrant life.

The Hollywood Theatre in Portland is finished! Come and see the glorious new colors both outside and in, by Art First.

Newly painted in colors by Art FIrst, but before the glorious new marquee, styled after the original by Fernanado Duarte.

The East store-front side of the Hollywood Theatre springs forth in its unique colors

Statement of Intent
To the friends of the Hollywood Theatre

In choosing the interior colors for the Theatre, I looked at a multitude of possible paint colors, having already ruled out any colors that appeared dull, lifeless, or generally not promoting the theatrical ambiance we want.

I believe we all wish to create an atmosphere in keeping with the original glamour evoked by the name, “The Hollywood Theatre”, and visually coordinating with the elegant terracotta exterior façade.

Viewing each pre-selected color against the enlarged color photos I took inside the Theatre, in the appropriate lighting conditions, I continually referred to the black and white photos of the original Lobby and upstairs Lounge, getting a sense of the probable tonal range used in the original color scheme.

Part of the process is balancing what the design looked like in 1926, with the awareness of the developed color sense that most of us have, now. Colors that were hot then are probably not now, at least when used in the same placement and proportion.

I firmly believe that our three color finalists will achieve our goals for the Theatre in an elegant and inspiring way. The colors have an historical as well as a contemporary significance.
Also, they will not clash horribly with the existing carpet until the time it can be retired from service.

Yours,Mary McMurray

before

after

the bland before

after

The Hollywood Theater, a charming watercolor painting by Jerry Bendschadler, captures the fantastic festive froth of her terracotta facade built at an angle to the sidewalk.

The original exterior paint colors for wood and metal surfaces were discovered by Mary McMurray of Art First Colors. Using microscopic analysis she provided a paint seriology report, and specifications for repainting.

The Manor House, built in 1924 in a Lutyens-like style for the Frank family estate, was designed by Herman Brookman. It features a slate roof, extraordinary brick and stone work, and charming details like the cast iron grille with bird motifs.

The "Old Red House" in Goldendale, Washington. Built in 1890 by a colorful character named Charles Newell, the "Horse King" of the Northwest. Called a stick-style "Gothic" Victorian. The rather austere appearance is offset by carved embellishments and many colors of stained glass in all of the windows.

The building has always been painted red but since all of the original paint had been removed, the exact shade of red and the trim colors were unknown. ART FIRST came up with the design for a darker red body, lighter red trim and cream colored accents.

ART
FIRST provided the microscopic paint analysis to discover the
original interior and exterior finishes, as well as on-site consultation
for re-creating the original stains and glazes for the interior
woodwork, which had been painted over by the Lodge's second owner.

"The National Park Service defines restoration as: The
act or process of accurately depicting the form, features, and
character of a property as it appeared at a particular period
in time by means of the removal of features from other periods
in history and reconstruction of missing features from the restoration
period.

"The Thunderbird Lodge is one of the last and best examples
of a great residential estate on Lake Tahoe from the period in
which prominent San Francisco society built homes on the lake.
In addition to the main house, there is a Card House, Caretaker's
Cottage, the Cook/Butler's House, an elephant house, the Admiral's
House, the Boathouse with adjoining 600' tunnel, and Gatehouse.
The Thunderbird Lodge is an example of an approach to architectural
design that is intended to be in harmony with its setting. The
siting, design and materials of the buildings, landscape features,
walls, paths and driveway are a result of this design philosophy.
The Lodge represents a high level of expertise in building crafts,
stone masonry, iron work and wood work. Examples of this craftsmanship
are evident in the buildings, tunnel, walls, steps and fountains.
The Lodge is also an example of the work of Frederic J. DeLongchamps,
who served as Nevada's State Architect and was Nevada's most
prominent architect of his era.

The Thunderbird Lodge, Lake Tahoe

The
Card House

"George Whittell was born in 1881 in San Francisco.
Numerous legends surround Whittell's activities at his Lake Tahoe
estate, including colorful parties and high-stakes gambling in
the card house. The eccentric Whittell collected a veritable
zoo of wild animals that made guest appearances at the Thunderbird
Lodge each summer. Lake Tahoe was selected as the site of Whittell's
new home because of the natural beauty and remote character of
this alpine basin. At the time, Whittell owned 40,000 acres and
24 miles of Nevada shoreline at Lake Tahoe. The resulting Thunderbird
Lodge includes elaborate tree and granite boulder filled grounds
with fountains, waterfalls, staircases, and paths. A 600-foot
tunnel carved through solid granite connects the main lodge with
the card house and the boathouse, home to his famous yacht, Thunderbird.
The Thunderbird Lodge was added to the national register of Historic
Places in 2000, and is open to the public for guided tours in
the summer months."

The re-painting of The Flavel House was in the true
original paint colors as determined by microscopic analysis by Art First.

Mary, Your match for the kitchen was right on the money – we found a never-been–painted plaster wall in the pantry with practically the identical color when we were doing some de-construction!

Michelle, Clatsop County Historical Society.

After restoration

ABOUT THE EXTERIOR
The Queen Anne-style, popular from 1880 to 1910, was characterized
by a steeply pitched roof of irregular shape; patterned shingles,
cutaway bay windows, and other devices used to avoid a smooth-walled
appearance; round, square, or polygonal towers; and an asymmetrical
facade with a partial or full-width porch - usually one story
high and often extended along one or both side walls. The house
also displays characteristics of the Stick and Italianate styles
such as the vertical stickwork, the bracketed eaves, and the
hooded moulding above the windows and doors. The roof and verandas
are crowned by the original decorative wrought iron cresting.In 1896, the house was painted white with red trim to acquire
the "Colonial Revival" look which had just gained popularity
in the western states. The house remained white until 1984 when,
for its centennial, the house was painted in a late Victorian
color scheme - antique gold with olive green and chocolate brown
trims.

In 1999 an ART FIRST paint analysis on the exterior of the Flavel House
revealed its original 1885 colors of putty for the body, buck-skin
for the trim, merlot for the sashes and decorative details, and
gold for the highlights. Today the house proudly displays its
authentic colors.

a detail

after

the
Flavel House colors before restoration were not authentic

Art expert restores school mural

A mural spans Hood River Middle School's
auditorium like a colorful history book telling the story of
Hood River County.
Painted as a gift in 1928 by local artist Percy Manser,
its scenes show Hispanic workers in an orchard and a contemplative
Native American with back turned to white settlers rolling by
in a covered wagon.
But like Hood River County itself, the mural has aged over the
years. Water damage from heavy rainstorms, as well as the simple
pas sage of time, has taken a toll.
There are cracks. Plaster has even crumbled in some places.
This week, though, the mural doctor is putting Hood River
Middle School's prize back together.
Mary McMurray of Portland is painstakingly restoring the
mural. Working from photographs, she carefully dabs a little
brown paint here, some blue there, in an effort to make things
look just like they did when Manser finished the mural 70 years
ago.
"He was really a good artist," McMurray said
during a break on Wednesday.
She did her homework before beginning. She knows the way
Manser mixed colors, and even the hues he used in his era.

That kind of artistic detective work is
McMurray's forte. With an art degree from Cornell University,
including a minor in art history, she's now a consultant who
helps interior designers and architects coordinate color schemes.
She also studies microscopic paint samples from historic
buildings to replicate the original color for repainting. She's
worked on churches, businesses and homes in Portland.
McMurray also recommends custom colors for newer buildings
that don't have particular historic value.
She considers the building's age and architectural style.
Even the exterior light direction plays a part in determining
the best color scheme. Light tends to be more blue when it comes
from the north, and yelIower when it comes from the south, she
said.
Now she's breathing life back into Manser's work. Hood
River Middle School Principal Bob Dais has spent two years planning
the restoration.
"It's a centerpiece of the community," he said
of the mural.
The mural restoration will cost $15,000 to $17,000.

Funding is provided through Hood River County School
District's capital budget, and some insurance money received
for the storm damage.
That project is just part of the school's up grading of
its auditorium. By summer, Dais hopes to replace the panes in
nine large windows to make the auditorium much brighter than
it has been.
New stage curtains also will be added. But Manser's mural
is the auditorium's focus. Its images not only reflect the county's
history, but the artwork allows lots of interpretation, Dais
said.
McMurray is concentrating on the mural's content-as well
as her brush strokes-while applying the four or five coats of
paint needed to complete the job.
"I try to get into the mood of what Percy was feeling,"
she said.

Restoration of 1928 Percy Manser mural at Hood River
Middle School Auditorium.

St. Mary's Cathedral

With
Sally Hopkins Art First restored and re-stenciled the Organ Pipes
in St. Mary's Cathedral, Portland.